The Texas Rangers are about three weeks into the new season. They were just dealt a big blow with the news that lefty Matt Harrison will need back surgery.
Despite the bad news, there is reason for optimism—after all, it’s only April.
Ron Washington and his players can still set their sights on the division crown. Here are a few reasons why.
Nelson Cruz has a lot to play for in 2013, especially now that his name was included in the MLB’s latest round of PED allegations.
The league hasn’t reprimanded any of the players named in the report yet, and Rangers GM Jon Daniels says he expects Nellie in right field to begin the season.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that even if the 32-year-old does clear his name, it’s a safe bet this dark cloud will follow him most of the season. Baseball’s shameful past with steroids makes these allegations difficult to shake, even for the innocent.
How Cruz will respond is a valid question. Will he still have a stellar season despite the uncomfortable spotlight? There are a few reasons to believe he will.
First of all, Nellie is a free agent at the end of this season. The lure of a big payday is almost always motivation for a professional athlete to step things up. We see it every year.
New hitting coach Dave Magadan’s arrival is also a possible sign of good things to come. Perhaps Cruz will benefit more than anyone from the former Red Sox coach’s hitting expertise.
Additionally, Nelson wouldn’t be the first player to post a solid season on the heels of an alleged steroid scandal. Ryan Braun faced immense scrutiny when he tested positive for PEDs in late 2011, but the former NL MVP managed to overturn the ruling and finished the following season second in MVP voting.
Cruz will get his first bit of action since the allegations when he suits up for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. It’s not spring training, but it’s still an early chance for fans to watch him play.
Texas needs Nellie right now—badly. They’ve already lost a great deal of punch in their lineup and cannot afford another casualty.
By his own standards, last season was a down year, but he still hit 24 homers and drove in 90 runs. Imagine if he bounces back and plays like the guy who helped carry the team to the World Series in 2011.
It’s a big season for the Rangers, and for Cruz as well. There are a lot of questions at the moment and few answers. The season starting will help, and it can’t get here soon enough.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Since Jon Daniels was hired as general manager after the 2005 season, the Rangers haven’t had many quiet offseasons.
Although he has done a lot of his best work at the trade deadlines, Daniels has also made many key additions during these offseasons. There have been a few misses too.
The offseason isn’t technically over yet, but there’s a good chance the Rangers won’t make any more moves.
So with that in mind, here is how the Rangers offseasons rank during the Jon Daniels era.
The Rangers‘ offseason has pretty much been universally labeled as a big whiff. Some have even gone as far as saying it is the worst in franchise history—although that is still debatable.
What is certain is that all the big-name free agents have been snatched up by other teams, leaving the front office with a lot of blank checks.
Basically, there is a lot of subtraction and little addition to the roster that won 90-plus games these last three seasons.
In terms of their pitching, the Rangers’ rotation has a chance to be better than most people might expect. They have three All-Stars in Alexi Ogando, Matt Harrison and Yu Darvish, plus Neftali Feliz and Colby Lewis returning from injury, and the ever-unpredictable Derek Holland. This group is at least good enough to keep the team in ballgames.
The bullpen could be solid as well with Joe Nathan anchoring the ninth inning. A lot depends on Joakim Soria’s health.
That brings us to the lineup, where the Rangers are usually very dependable to field a championship-caliber offense. That was until major run producers like Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Mike Napoli all found different homes in 2013, leaving a big hole to fill.
Again, this is a problem Texas hasn’t addressed much to this point in the offseason.
So far their biggest catch is A.J. Pierzynski, who signed a small, one-year contract. He is an upgrade at catcher, but the 35-year-old is not the impact player fans were hoping to see.
It definitely appears like a number of clubs in the American League have made significant contributions to their championship aspirations in 2013, which only adds to the frustration with the Rangers offseason.
This undoubtedly has left many fans wondering if the Rangers’ failure to add an impact bat thus far has dashed the team’s World Series hopes next year.
It might seem that way right now, but there is way too much time before the next Fall Classic to draw that conclusion.
The offseason in professional baseball is unlike many others in sports. It’s long and drawn out, making it feel like a second season.
Outrageous contracts are handed out left and right to high-profile free agents, and the teams they sign with are usually crowned “World Series favorites.”
It’s funny how quickly some people forget that trophies aren’t given out in December.
It’s a great time to improve, and there’s no question the teams who signed Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton are better with them than without.
However, the parity in baseball these days makes it too difficult to declare a season DOA before it even starts.
Did anyone hear much about San Francisco this time last year? No, Los Angeles was all the buzz. Or what about St. Louis the year before? Nope, that was Boston and Philadelphia.
The Rangers aren’t letting their best hitters skip town and replacing them with guys off the street or an over-the-hill veteran playing on his last leg. They are plugging in blue-chip prospects that a lot of teams would love to have on their roster.
Let’s not forget about the remaining players, either. Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and David Murphy are all coming off excellent seasons. If Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz return to form, there are still the makings of a top-10 offensive team.
Another bat would help, but there are other times to add one besides December and January.
The door is still open. The Rangers have the first three months of the season to see how their reconstructed lineup works. After that, if help is needed, there are more than enough resources in the farm system to make that happen.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar. Keep them both or trade one to fulfill one of the team’s many needs?
This is the question that is keeping the Texas Rangers’ front office up at night, and probably a lot of fans too.
If Jon Daniels and company were to decide that a trade is best, now is the time to make it happen. Both players’ values are at an all-time high. Andrus just finished his finest all-around season as a professional while Profar has zoomed through the farm system, earned a promotion to the big leagues and emerged as an elite prospect.
This is where the name Justin Upton usually comes up. According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, Texas tried earlier this month to get the Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder in a deal that involved Mike Olt and the Atlanta Braves.
This trade obviously fell through but the interest in Upton remains. Arizona made it clear they want a shortstop (via USA Today) from Texas, which just so happens to have two pretty good ones.
The Rangers need a young, potent bat in their lineup—even more so next year when the contracts of Michael Young, Nelson Cruz and David Murphy expire. The free-agent class is thin (or slightly complicated in Josh Hamilton’s case), which makes a player like Upton very intriguing.
With Andrus’ looming contract situation in two years, he seems like the most likely candidate to be dealt for Upton. Profar is under team control and has a very high ceiling, perhaps higher than Andrus.
However, is the Rangers’ need for a bat dire enough right now to swap Andrus for Upton?
The trade seems simple enough on paper. The Rangers get an immensely talented 25-year-old outfielder, and the Diamondbacks get one of the top shortstops in baseball. In the process, Texas can give Profar the full-time job at shortstop and solve their mess in the middle infield.
But, once you dig deeper, the situation gets a little more complicated.
Upton has two excellent seasons on his resume and lots of potential, but he has yet to string two productive seasons in a row. The Rangers need a slam dunk if they plan on moving their All-Star shortstop. No disrespect to Upton, he’s still young, but if Texas is trying to compete for championships, they must be sure of the investment they’re making now and in the future.
Again, the reasoning behind trading Andrus is mostly financial. When his current contract expires, he will look to receive a huge new contract, aided by everybody’s favorite super agent, Scott Boras.
However, it is important to consider that the massive television deal the Rangers signed two years ago comes into effect in 2015, which is the year right after Andrus’ contract expires.
The front office is careful with the team’s spending, but the increased resources from this television contract will be well spent on Andrus. While he may never put up gaudy the offensive numbers that Upton can, Elvis still plays Gold Glove-caliber defense at a premium position. He has also emerged as a leader in a clubhouse that has taken the organization to new heights these past three seasons.
Holding on to Andrus is the right move for now, especially since Ian Kinsler said he is willing to switch positions (via espn.com) to help improve the team, clearing the way for Profar to be an everyday player.
No one says the Rangers have to make a move just yet. They have a good hand they don’t have to play at the moment. While the market is big for Upton, it cannot be said that he is one of the top players at his position, like it can with Andrus.
Keep an eye on Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke. They represent two of the team’s biggest needs. Once those chips fall, everything this offseason should move much faster.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Josh Hamilton is officially a free agent. Let the madness begin.
All the crazy speculation soon to follow isn’t that new to the star outfielder. Hamilton has dealt with questions about his future ever since he and the Rangers couldn’t reach a long-term deal before the 2012 season started.
Texas has until November 2nd to make a qualifying offer, or a one-year deal worth the average of the MLB’s top 125 salaries to Hamilton. A team receives a compensatory draft pick if the free agent rejects the offer, which Josh will most certainly do.
The real date to keep an eye on is the following day, November 3rd, which is the first day players can sign with new teams.
Hamilton is the best every day player available in this free agent class, so he should remain unsigned when the winter meetings open in December, according to Gerry Fraley of DallasNews.com.
There is plenty that can happen in that period of time. The Angels came out of nowhere last December to scoop up Albert Pujols, who was the top hitter on the market. Who that mystery team might be this year is still up in the air.
What we think we know so far is this: According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, keep an eye on the Milwaukee Brewers, and don’t expect some of the traditional powers to join in the Hamilton sweepstakes.
“Milwaukee might have a tough time competing financially if one of the major markets become involved. But at least the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers aren’t expected to play here, and the incumbent Rangers aren’t going to make an early offer, so the Brewers’ chances could be better than one might think.”
This whole situation looks familiar to how the Rangers handled C.J. Wilson’s free agency a year ago. The team didn’t make an early offer to Wilson, who was one of the top free agent pitchers, and watched him sign with the Angels after the winter meetings.
Management felt the money was put to better use towards a player like Yu Darvish.
Do the Rangers feel as confident now moving forward without Hamilton? We’ll have to wait and see.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Josh Hamilton was probably happier than anyone to see the calendar flipped to August. He struggled mightily in July, which was well chronicled, hitting just .177 with 11 RBI.
After hitting .310 with seven homers and 28 RBI in August, the late summer’s frustration has melted away. It’s time to take a peek into Hamilton’s future once again. There are bigger things to worry about right now for the Rangers, such as the surging Athletics, but with every ball the 31-year-old launches out of the park, it’s hard not to think about where he might play next year.
This begs the question: What can the Rangers do to keep him?
The first option is the most obvious, yet it is also complicated: offer him a huge contract. This may start somewhere in the range of the seven-year, $126 million deal Jayson Werth signed with the Nationals two years ago. Werth was 31 when he signed this deal. He did not have the history of substance abuse and injuries as Hamilton. However, even at his best, Werth did not touch the type of production Texas has seen from Hamilton the last five years.
There is a good chance the Rangers will not offer Hamilton this type of contract. It’s not that he doesn’t deserve it, but Texas is trying to build a contender responsibly. The Rangers don’t want to make a big, long-term financial commitment when they have other important players who need new contracts soon as well.
The front office will then have to emphasize other areas that cannot be monetized.
The Rangers have great organizational structure. Nolan Ryan, Jon Daniels and Ron Washington are all firmly in place at their positions. They have been around for all of Hamilton’s great achievements, and they have supported him in his moments of need.
They can also point to the relationships with his teammates. These are guys who went to his first press conference as a Ranger, something he mentioned in his book that meant a lot to him. His teammates also show sensitivity to Hamilton’s struggles when they celebrate in October, spraying each other with ginger ale instead of alcohol.
His front office and teammates combine for something else very important—he can win and succeed in Texas. There isn’t much Hamilton needs on the roster that he doesn’t already have. He has Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler hitting in front of him, two players with speed and great on-base percentage. He also has Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz hitting behind him, giving other teams something to think about when they want to pitch around Josh.
Hamilton is well-known for putting his faith and family before anything else, including baseball. His decision will include many factors besides the potential size of his next paycheck.
At the end of the day, however, it’s going to be tough telling Hamilton to completely ignore the money. He is still a professional athlete when it’s all said and done. This means he has a short window to maximize his earnings and ensure his family’s financial stability.
If he decides to sign with another team that offers one dollar more, that’s his prerogative.
From the outside looking in, it appears Hamilton loves being a Ranger. He has said they will have the first shot at re-signing him, and there are plenty reasons for him to stay. Expect the Rangers to work hard to keep him while also leaving themselves with change in the piggy bank to continue improving the team.
There is still a lot of negotiating left, so maybe Hamilton’s agent and the Rangers can figure out a deal that satisfies both parties.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Okay, so technically it’s going to be really hard for any one player to “replace” Josh Hamilton. Talk all you want about his off-the-field problems or aggressiveness at the plate, when it’s all said and done, he has been one of the best players in baseball over the last five years.
There is a real chance that he leaves when this season is over and calls a new ballpark home in 2013. If that happens, someone will have to run to his old position in the outfield and take his spot in the lineup.
Here are 10 potential players who the Texas Rangers might target for this job.
In just a few short weeks, every major league team will have the opportunity to expand their roster. This is a time where teams call up fresh faces from the minors, in most cases promising young stars.
The Rangers will have this opportunity as well. The name that is on the tip of everyone’s tongue is hotshot prospect Jurickson Profar.
The 19-year-old shortstop is the team’s top prospect and one of the top minor league players in all of baseball. He has had a great season in Double-A and deserves consideration for a promotion come September.
Here are seven reasons why a promotion would benefit Profar and the Rangers as well.
It was one of the biggest mysteries concerning Josh Hamilton‘s ability on the field. During the past couple seasons, he was a superstar during night games but looked somewhat mortal when the sun was up.
It should be noted that Hamilton’s at bats during the evening more than double his amount during day games. But, his stats still told an interesting story.
During the 121 games he played in 2011, Hamilton hit just .220 with one home run in the afternoon. When the lights came on, he was a totally different player, hitting .324 with 24 homers. Even in 2010 when he won the AL MVP and the batting title, Hamilton’s .286 average during the day was in stark contrast to the .384 he hit at night.
In the small sample of the 2012 season, those issues seem to be behind him. Off to a torrid start, the lefty is hitting .500 with four home runs. It’s pretty unlikely he continues this pace, but it is definitely an encouraging sign for Hamilton and the Rangers.
Hamilton told Richard Durrett a couple reasons for his resurgence are eye drops and sunglasses that he is more comfortable with.
Whatever the reason might be, this ultimately seems like one of the those things in baseball that is difficult to fully decipher. It’s not as if Hamilton had this problem his entire baseball career.
He has played plenty of day games during his life. A ton of Little League and high school games are played in the afternoon, yet he still managed to be the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Hamilton is a talented enough player that it should come as no surprise he figured out the problem eventually.
In the end, it should certainly intimidate opposing pitchers if he is able to closely duplicate his night game numbers during the day.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com